The Veteran's left shoulder impingement syndrome (tendinitis) was not related to service, and the lichen planus warranted a 30% rating from May 26, 2004.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the left shoulder condition or lichen planus were related to the Veteran's military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Joint pain of the left arm and shoulder, Lichen planus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- March 11, 2009
- Citation
- 0908978
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,200 · Granted: 43% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0908978.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that a new VA examination is needed for the Veteran's lichen planus, and remands his claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, migraines, and seizures as secondary to his service-connected lichen planus. The Veteran was not provided with adequate examinations or opinions regarding these issues.
- Granted
The Veteran was found unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected PTSD since June 9, 2014.
- Granted
The Veteran's lichen planus is rated at a 60 percent rating, effective May 6, 2011. The Board also granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted an initial rating of 10 percent for lichen planus of the penis from September 1, 2008 to November 6, 2015 and a maximum rating of 60 percent from November 6, 2015. The Veteran also receives SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(k) for loss of use of creative organ.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.